TEL AVIV — Seven members of Hamas were arrested in Cairo after being caught with explosive-laden cars meant to be used in a series of attacks in Egypt, according to a senior Egyptian intelligence official speaking to WND.

The official said the Hamas gunmen were working in conjunction with members of the Muslim Brotherhood pending a decision by leaders within the Islamist group to order attacks in retaliation for the military’s ouster of Mohamed Morsi as president following days of massive popular protests.

The information comes after WND reported yesterday the Brotherhood was studying how to form a so-called military wing to carry out terrorist attacks, according to a senior Egyptian security official.

The official said the possibilities the Muslim Brotherhood members were discussing include formally renouncing membership in the Muslim Brotherhood so they can direct attacks, including against tourist sites in Egypt.

The Brotherhood’s proposed military wing would model itself after Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya, a notorious Egyptian terror group founded by the Muslim Brotherhood, the official said.

Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya is suspected of involvement in the 1981 assassination of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, and it took credit for the 1995 attempted killing of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. It has carried out scores of deadly terrorist attacks, some targeting foreign tourists.